Wasilla’s most famous personality is not Robert Hansen, though he spent many days in the vicinity, mostly hunting. The most prominent person in these parts, of course, is Sarah Palin, who grew up — and rose to prominence — in Wasilla.
Sarah Palin with Hunting Rifle (Scope Features)
Wasilla’s a place where — with Anchorage in the rear-view mirror, and the city finally gone — one starts to feel the distinct pull of the Alaska Bush.
Chugach Mountains from Wasilla
A few miles out and that’s exactly where you are. There’s hunting. And fishing. Kayaks and canoes. Dog sleds and snow machines. Miles and miles of untouched — or barely-touched — landscape. Did I mention hunting?
Chimo Gun Store, Wasilla (photo Brian Adams; Sarah Palin buys ammo here)
Although Robert Hansen’s “Alaskan Nightmare” usually took him a little bit east of Wasilla, and south of Palmer, along the Knik River, he did leave at least two suspicious marks on his map, north of these two towns. The topic of those marks did, of course, come up during the map-reading portion of his confession:
Robert Hansen: Okay. Could we go ah (pause). The last one’s here, ah…
Frank Rothschild (Prosecutor): Over towards Susitna?
Robert Hansen: Yeah. East of here, ah, the Susitna River, but you know, in… in between there and Anchorage. (pause) These up here don’t mean nothing [#18 and #19]. Did… there’s nothing there. There’s two down here though (#9 and #11).
Glenn Flothe (AST): Out in northwest of Anchorage [ED. NOTE: across Knik Arm, among the Mat-Su lakes].
In Hansen speak, the Wasilla marks do not signify victim burial sites. Based on his overall facility with the maps, however, the cops and prosecutors overseeing his confession came away with another impression. After an involved back-and-forth about assuring the safety of Hansen’s family — and intermittent progress identifying victims on the maps — the officers took a break and Hansen left the room. They didn’t realize the tape was still rolling.
Vic Krumm (DA): He’s not even half done.
Lyle Haugsven (AST): He does know where every one of them is at.
Vic Krumm: He’s not even half done.
Frank Rothschild (Prosecutor): No but he is a hell of a humanitarian for his family, isn’t he.
Lyle Haugsven (AST): Are we off the record or…
Frank Rothschild (Prosecutor): Yeah.
It’s worth repeating: “He does know where every one of them is at.” [Emphasis added]
Flothe’s Map, north of Wasilla-Palmer (courtesy Alaska State Troopers)
Hansen’s Map, north of Wasilla-Palmer (courtesy Alaska Public Defender)
- #18 — Unknown (denied by Hansen; Palmer-Fishhook Road, near Little Susitna River)
- #19 — Unknown (denied by Hansen; Wasilla-Fishhook Road, near Little Susitna River)
Purchase Butcher, Baker